Re: Not By Works

Originally Posted by Magenta

They obviously have a problem with the truth. What they seem to be saying and doing is giving themselves carte blanche to behave any way they like, and say whatever they think regardless of whether or not it is true, but they will put you down when you point out what they are doing: the feigning of ignorance and playing the victim card. Some people seem to have it down to a science. Come to think of it, it is often the sinless perfectionists who do this, gladly telling us how righteous they are while they go around slandering others, and misrepresenting what is said on a regular basis.

Re: Not By Works

Originally Posted by Magenta

Your second point seems a terrible misrepresentation of what Dcon actually does here in coming against those who DO try to dissuade others of their reward. You really ought to leave off commenting until you know what is going on, which PLAINLY you do not.

Re: Not By Works

Originally Posted by benhur

You are the type of Christian that Jesus loves. You have great faith that lead the surgeons to go another way. You are also imperfect, but since you realize you are, and you are willing to repent, you find yourself back in the arms of Jesus where you belong. He will always be with you, and you will feel his healing presence as you apply your righteous faith.

You deserve to be off your bed and outside to enjoy the creation. The sun and the earth have healing properties all coming through the light of Jesus Christ, so hope you get well and find yourself enjoying the beauties of nature like God intends us to.

Keep us up to date on your surgery. I am glad you mentioned it so we all on the forum can pray for you.

May the Lord Jesus be with you in your hour of need. As you call for him, he will hear you and as you open your heart, he will enter.

Actually, God loves all or maybe you just chunk John 3:16 and 1st John 3:3 like you do with many other verses!

Re: Not By Works

Originally Posted by zone

58 thousand posts.....

.....do we know yet? is it by works or not?

Romans 3
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

Righteousness Through Faith

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Re: Not By Works

Originally Posted by dcontroversal

Paul said, "Be ye angry and sin not" It is not wrong to be angry with someone....the sin comes when in anger we do or say something to spite or in a vindictive manner

I agree, I think.
But we can do vindictiveness inside, with revenge fantasies and fuming. People can usually see something is wrong though and will ask: are you mad at me about something? And we deny that we are because we hide our murder. If we weren't trying to hide it, we would be truthful and say, you know...yeah, I'm mad because you did thus and thus.

And we find socially acceptable ways to get revenge, like the useless way of conversation we are taught by our parents - to do it passively aggressively. We do our get even in some way so that we can say: no one has caught me cheating. We do it in such a way so that it can't be proven what we are doing or have done. Its a mess that's hard to leave behind. Its not easy to begin being truthful after a lifetime of NOT being truthful.

Re: Not By Works

In reference to the moving of what we now call time and to the sinful populace of this age there will always be times of love and times of hate, a time to love and a time to hate, however according to our Lord and Savior we are to always love, even those who may hate us.

Our time is always to love.

Also in interpreting the written code, remember the written code kills. Simply quoting the written code with the understanding of this age and not by the Holy Spirit is death.

We have been freed, freed indeed, and now we are permitted and embued with the ability to love, even our enemies.

From the Mouth of our Lord, Jesus Christ, or do you call Him Yeshua?
Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Re: Not By Works

Do You Know Why I Adamantly Believe in the Born Again experience, and the Once Saved, Always Saved positions?

Believe me, NEITHER was taught in the Church that I was Raised In. It was an old fashion German style of Lutheran Church. No Body ever even mentioned those two Beliefs to me, while I was growing up.

I remained, not Saved, but thought I was a Christian, because I took up space on a Church Pew once in awhile. Some body should have told me, that if sitting in a garage, did not make me a Car; why would just sitting in a pew, would make me a Christian. I was NOT Saved, until I was almost 29 years old on about December 30, 1977, and I was raised in that Church my whole life prior to that. On December 24, 1977, I was told by my wife of only 6 months, "I want a Divorce, because you cannot earn enough money to buy me what I want in life."

That sent me into a tailspin, into deep depression. During the Following week, I attempted SUICIDE three different times. The first time I made up my mind that I knew I did not care if I hurt my parents, or even my brother or sister. I just did not want to live another DAY. I sat on the bed with a pistol against my head, and with the trigger half pulled. The is when the Lord intervened, HE PUT SUCH A SHEAR TERROR IN MY HEART, because I was NOT SAVED, that I KNEW IF I FINISHED PULLING THE TRIGGER I WAS WALKING INTO HELL, FOR SURE. I shook so hard that I dropped the pistol on the bed. No, I was not afraid of Dying, I just did not want to see another DAY.

Two days after that, I tried a second Time. This time I called my wife, because I wanted her to hear the fatal shot when I did it. And again the Lord intervened, and that SAME OVERWHELMING TERROR over came me. A TERROR WAY BEYOND WHAT A MAN WITH A KNIFE TO THROAT, COULD EVER PUT IN ME JUST BEFORE HE SLIT MY THROAT. I LITERALLY KNEW I WAS IN THE DOORWAY TO HADES/HELL AND WILLINGLY WALK INTO IT. This time as I shook the Pistol fell from my hand and hit the floor. I still do not know what it did not go off.

The Next NIGHT, I tried a third time. I saw them pouring a very thick layer of Gravel on a dirt road near me, that after noon. I went to a bar that night, and got as drunk as I could, and made a full proof plan {God had other plans for my life}, and drove home on my dirt bike, and dropped my helmet off. I then when out to than dirt road with lose gravel on it, KNOWING THE MOST DANGEROUS SURFACE YOU CAN RIDE A BIKE ON WAS LOOSE GRAVEL. I am MORE ashamed of what I did next, because I KNEW IT SAID IN THE BIBLE, "THOU SHALT NOT TEMPT THE LORD YOUR GOD." As I approached that Mile of Lose Gravel, I looked up to the sky and TAUNTED GOD, "If You want me, you can take me any where you want to on this mile!" And I leaned out over the handle bars with NO HELMET, so that way I was sure to hit head first when I lost control.

With the throttle wide open, and leaning over the handle bars for the whole mile, that bike DID NOT EVEN WOBBLE. It was as if I was riding on pavement. That was about 01:30 AM. I backed the throttle off, went home and sat up thinking about what had happened, sobering up, and then as I was about to go to bed at approximately at 05:00 AM, something happened that dropped me to my knees. As I walking into the Bedroom, I REALIZED, that GOD HAD INTERVENED YET AGAIN. I KNEW HE HAD TO HAVE REACHED DOWN AND HELD THAT BIKE STEADY, as if to say, "KNOW YOU DON'T, I HAVE A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE."

As I fell to my knees, WAVE, AFTER WAVE of guilt over my WHOLE LIFESTYLE washed over me. I was WEEPING and Bawling like a baby, as I CRIED OUT TO HIM, "Forgive Me, Forgive Me! Lord if you have a purpose for my life, you have to come into my life and live it, because I CAN'T LIVE LIKE THAT. I am making a Total Mess of my Life." I continue to weep and asking HIM FOR FORGIVENESS for about another hour. Sometime I found that I was Prostrate face down on the floor.

What happened next, I usually leave out when telling my Testimony, because I fear most would want to make fun of it. But some how, I think this will be important to someone. Either I fell asleep for a little while and had the most VIVID Dream I ever had, or HE gave me a vision. I found myself kneeling at the Foot of the Cross, my Crying uncontrollably, crying, "Forgive Me, Forgive Me!" EVERY SIN I EVER COMMITTED WAS LIKE ANOTHER ONE POUND WEIGHT, pulling all the more on HIS nails. And there were so MANY. As I noticed the NAILS, they were in HIS wrists. NO ONE EVER TOLD ME THAT THE JEWS CONSIDER THE WRISTS TO BE PART OF THE HANDS. I never knew that before. AND then I SAW THE BLOOD DRIP, AND FALL, AND I COULD FEEL THE BLOOD WAS WARM AS IT FELL ON MY OUTSTRETCHED FOREARMS. I knew that meant I was FOREGIVEN!

Whether it was a Dream, or Vision, I do not know, that was where it ended. AND KNOW NO ONE HAD EVER TAUGHT ME ABOUT BEING BORN AGAIN, OR ETERNALLY ALIVE IN MY SPIRIT IN THE CHURCH WERE I GREW UP IN, and eventually left. BUT I KNEW HE AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WERE IN ME. I KNEW HE HAD A PLAN FOR MY LIFE, and I TRUSTED HIM TOTALLY. I have seen so many minor miracles in my life, and some Big Ones, there IS NO MORE TURNING BACK, NOT A SINGLE TIME OF DOUBT IN HIM, AND HIS CONTROL OVER MY LIFE HAS BEEN AWESOME. YES I AM ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT THAT HIS SPIRIT BROUGHT MY HUMAN SPIRIT TO BE ETERNALLY ALIVE. I will tell the rest of my story, and How HE used me, some other time.

But PLEASE, do not ever tempt the LORD our GOD the way I DID. DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT SUICIDE, IT IS DEFINITELY THE WRONG WAY. IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO IS THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE, YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION TO LET THEM READ MY TESTIMONY.

Re: Not By Works

Do You Know Why I Adamantly Believe in the Born Again experience, and the Once Saved, Always Saved positions?

Believe me, NEITHER was taught in the Church that I was Raised In. It was an old fashion German style of Lutheran Church. No Body ever even mentioned those two Beliefs to me, while I was growing up.

Amen. This is a very stirring testimony.
And brother, after such an experience you know there is nothing you can do that
makes you worthy, that everything in your walk is just an offering of praise to the King.

The part you shared about seeing your sins and Jesus upon that cross bearing them all
and forgiving them is the core of our walk and our purity.

Many here have not come close to what you saw that day, or know in their hearts the
depth of repentance you felt. I went to a similar place to yourself and it changed everything
for me. But this only has significance if we walk in His ways. He gives us the ability to walk
in our futures whether we are faithful or not.

I used to wonder why God blessed with gifting and spiritual insight those who later stumbled
and fell, maybe irretrievably. Because God blesses in the moment, He accepts you as you are
today, and He honors that moment, whether it will be destroyed in the future or not.

This is the meaning of Ezk 18:21-26

The people of Israel where baptised into heaven through the red sea, yet many died judged
in that desert. We are free beings, blessed by love and grace, but we need to be worthy of
this blessing and walk in it.

Re: Not By Works

Originally Posted by gb9

greek word for grace- charis- first definition -a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus.

definition of gift- a thing given willingly to someone without payment.

so, since the very words and definition of grace is free gift, the Bible defines grace as free. you do not define it that way. so, the Bible is correct, you are wrong for mocking free grace, since the very definition of it by Biblical standards are free grace.

Hi gb9,

Do you know what honesty is? It is saying something that is fair about another.
It maybe how something comes across, or the actual implications of a belief or the
school of theology to which they belong.

Grace or mercy is defined by Jesus in the merciful King.

"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.
Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.'
The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.
When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.
Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'
In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
Matthew 18:23-34

The mercy or grace was freely given but conditional.
If as believers this parable does not speak to your heart, then I doubt anything
else will.

Re: Not By Works

Do You Know Why I Adamantly Believe in the Born Again experience, and the Once Saved, Always Saved positions?

Believe me, NEITHER was taught in the Church that I was Raised In. It was an old fashion German style of Lutheran Church. No Body ever even mentioned those two Beliefs to me, while I was growing up.

I remained, not Saved, but thought I was a Christian, because I took up space on a Church Pew once in awhile. Some body should have told me, that if sitting in a garage, did not make me a Car; why would just sitting in a pew, would make me a Christian. I was NOT Saved, until I was almost 29 years old on about December 30, 1977, and I was raised in that Church my whole life prior to that. On December 24, 1977, I was told by my wife of only 6 months, "I want a Divorce, because you cannot earn enough money to buy me what I want in life."

That sent me into a tailspin, into deep depression. During the Following week, I attempted SUICIDE three different times. The first time I made up my mind that I knew I did not care if I hurt my parents, or even my brother or sister. I just did not want to live another DAY. I sat on the bed with a pistol against my head, and with the trigger half pulled. The is when the Lord intervened, HE PUT SUCH A SHEAR TERROR IN MY HEART, because I was NOT SAVED, that I KNEW IF I FINISHED PULLING THE TRIGGER I WAS WALKING INTO HELL, FOR SURE. I shook so hard that I dropped the pistol on the bed. No, I was not afraid of Dying, I just did not want to see another DAY.

Two days after that, I tried a second Time. This time I called my wife, because I wanted her to hear the fatal shot when I did it. And again the Lord intervened, and that SAME OVERWHELMING TERROR over came me. A TERROR WAY BEYOND WHAT A MAN WITH A KNIFE TO THROAT, COULD EVER PUT IN ME JUST BEFORE HE SLIT MY THROAT. I LITERALLY KNEW I WAS IN THE DOORWAY TO HADES/HELL AND WILLINGLY WALK INTO IT. This time as I shook the Pistol fell from my hand and hit the floor. I still do not know what it did not go off.

The Next NIGHT, I tried a third time. I saw them pouring a very thick layer of Gravel on a dirt road near me, that after noon. I went to a bar that night, and got as drunk as I could, and made a full proof plan {God had other plans for my life}, and drove home on my dirt bike, and dropped my helmet off. I then when out to than dirt road with lose gravel on it, KNOWING THE MOST DANGEROUS SURFACE YOU CAN RIDE A BIKE ON WAS LOOSE GRAVEL. I am MORE ashamed of what I did next, because I KNEW IT SAID IN THE BIBLE, "THOU SHALT NOT TEMPT THE LORD YOUR GOD." As I approached that Mile of Lose Gravel, I looked up to the sky and TAUNTED GOD, "If You want me, you can take me any where you want to on this mile!" And I leaned out over the handle bars with NO HELMET, so that way I was sure to hit head first when I lost control.

With the throttle wide open, and leaning over the handle bars for the whole mile, that bike DID NOT EVEN WOBBLE. It was as if I was riding on pavement. That was about 01:30 AM. I backed the throttle off, went home and sat up thinking about what had happened, sobering up, and then as I was about to go to bed at approximately at 05:00 AM, something happened that dropped me to my knees. As I walking into the Bedroom, I REALIZED, that GOD HAD INTERVENED YET AGAIN. I KNEW HE HAD TO HAVE REACHED DOWN AND HELD THAT BIKE STEADY, as if to say, "KNOW YOU DON'T, I HAVE A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE."

As I fell to my knees, WAVE, AFTER WAVE of guilt over my WHOLE LIFESTYLE washed over me. I was WEEPING and Bawling like a baby, as I CRIED OUT TO HIM, "Forgive Me, Forgive Me! Lord if you have a purpose for my life, you have to come into my life and live it, because I CAN'T LIVE LIKE THAT. I am making a Total Mess of my Life." I continue to weep and asking HIM FOR FORGIVENESS for about another hour. Sometime I found that I was Prostrate face down on the floor.

What happened next, I usually leave out when telling my Testimony, because I fear most would want to make fun of it. But some how, I think this will be important to someone. Either I fell asleep for a little while and had the most VIVID Dream I ever had, or HE gave me a vision. I found myself kneeling at the Foot of the Cross, my Crying uncontrollably, crying, "Forgive Me, Forgive Me!" EVERY SIN I EVER COMMITTED WAS LIKE ANOTHER ONE POUND WEIGHT, pulling all the more on HIS nails. And there were so MANY. As I noticed the NAILS, they were in HIS wrists. NO ONE EVER TOLD ME THAT THE JEWS CONSIDER THE WRISTS TO BE PART OF THE HANDS. I never knew that before. AND then I SAW THE BLOOD DRIP, AND FALL, AND I COULD FEEL THE BLOOD WAS WARM AS IT FELL ON MY OUTSTRETCHED FOREARMS. I knew that meant I was FOREGIVEN!

Whether it was a Dream, or Vision, I do not know, that was where it ended. AND KNOW NO ONE HAD EVER TAUGHT ME ABOUT BEING BORN AGAIN, OR ETERNALLY ALIVE IN MY SPIRIT IN THE CHURCH WERE I GREW UP IN, and eventually left. BUT I KNEW HE AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WERE IN ME. I KNEW HE HAD A PLAN FOR MY LIFE, and I TRUSTED HIM TOTALLY. I have seen so many minor miracles in my life, and some Big Ones, there IS NO MORE TURNING BACK, NOT A SINGLE TIME OF DOUBT IN HIM, AND HIS CONTROL OVER MY LIFE HAS BEEN AWESOME. YES I AM ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT THAT HIS SPIRIT BROUGHT MY HUMAN SPIRIT TO BE ETERNALLY ALIVE. I will tell the rest of my story, and How HE used me, some other time.

But PLEASE, do not ever tempt the LORD our GOD the way I DID. DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT SUICIDE, IT IS DEFINITELY THE WRONG WAY. IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO IS THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE, YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION TO LET THEM READ MY TESTIMONY.

Re: Not By Works

Originally Posted by LightLoveHope

Hi gb9,

Do you know what honesty is? It is saying something that is fair about another.
It maybe how something comes across, or the actual implications of a belief or the
school of theology to which they belong.

Grace or mercy is defined by Jesus in the merciful King.

"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.
Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.'
The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.
When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.
Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'
In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
Matthew 18:23-34

The mercy or grace was freely given but conditional.
If as believers this parable does not speak to your heart, then I doubt anything
else will.

so, in simple words, you reject the actual definition of the word grace and make up your own.

Re: Not By Works

It struck me some believe they are defined by their initial reaction to everything.
They feel that is who they are, fixed, in time, isolated, sinful and empty.

Jesus calls us to change. And He calls us to work through in our minds the issues,
the sins, the condemnation, the guilt and express it, confess it, and see it change.
Before the foot of the cross perspective, healing, context, love, ministers and changes
us.

I was once lonely, empty, felt rejected, needy, isolated, guilty, lost, without hope,
scared, angry, hurt, in need to be understood. These feelings defined all my interactions,
they were my emotional armor. Over the years, God has changed them, one by one, and
brought healing, resolution, knowledge, love, truth, care, ownership, weeping, hugs, intimacy,
belonging, empathy. How? By letting them come to the surface, to feel them, to know them,
and then become something different in Him.

If you keep everything locked away, you stay as this controlled, balanced individual, where
nothing upsets or changes you, it is all kept at a distance, and everything is fine, in its place,
except it is not. This has never been Gods intention for your life.

What I share, whether I know it or not, is change, is love, is revolution, is discovery, is walking
in Christ, is faith, is trust, is reaching out and knowing Him, the Lord of all and love that is eternal,
that was not too great to become so low, and dwell with us who are nothing to help make us
something in Him, Hallelujah. Glory to the Lord, and all He is.

Listen to Paul

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.
Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.
1 Timothy 1:12-15

This God who took Paul and made him a man of peace and love, grace, endurance, able
to carry on through great hardship and persecution will do likewise in us if we open our
hearts and work through our issues with Him and with one another. This is the gospel
of life and eternity, walking in the light and not letting darkness have dominion over us.

Re: Not By Works

so, in simple words, you reject the actual definition of the word grace and make up your own.
why do you refuse to actually accept what words actually mean?

I am sorry gb9. If you do not hear Jesus you cannot hear me.
I do wonder though what you think Jesus is telling the parable of the merciful King for
when He says "the kingdom of heaven in like".

Dear reader, brothers and sisters, when anybodies heart cannot hear Jesus teaching
about how God regards people and the mercy or grace He gives them in the forgiveness
of their sins, there is nothing left to say. There is nothing more fundamental in the relationship
than this. Are we forgiven our sins, and if so how should we then behave?

And the disdain and simple rejection of the word of God that is plain and simple is foolish.
It is like going up to a powerful person, insulting them, knowing ones life is in their hands,
as if they will not retaliate in due course. Only a fool would do this.

Re: Not By Works

I am sorry gb9. If you do not hear Jesus you cannot hear me.
I do wonder though what you think Jesus is telling the parable of the merciful King for
when He says "the kingdom of heaven in like".

Dear reader, brothers and sisters, when anybodies heart cannot hear Jesus teaching
about how God regards people and the mercy or grace He gives them in the forgiveness
of their sins, there is nothing left to say. There is nothing more fundamental in the relationship
than this. Are we forgiven our sins, and if so how should we then behave?

And the disdain and simple rejection of the word of God that is plain and simple is foolish.
It is like going up to a powerful person, insulting them, knowing ones life is in their hands,
as if they will not retaliate in due course. Only a fool would do this.

Grace and peace to you in Christ Jesus, Amen.

I am talking about the definition of the word grace. you ignored the meaning, and jumped to the parable.

the meaning of the parable of the merciful king is this- the servant who was shown grace and mercy should have shown the person who owed him a far less amount the same. this backs ups Jesus's golden rule- do onto others as you would hav them do onto you.

this does not mean that the definition of grace is changed. I gave the N.T., first definition of the word charis. if you do like that definition, take it up with the writers of the N.T. they used it.

Re: Not By Works

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:6

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.
But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation--if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
Colossians 1:21-24

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
Colossians 1:28

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
Colossians 1:10

We are called to "live a life worthy of the Lord"
Paul teaches to make us "perfect in Christ"
Paul makes up what is lacking in Christs afflictions.
We are to be Holy, without blemish in His sight.

Now who teaches what Paul is teaching and who denies these words?
It is always up to the believer to be taught by God and listen to Him.

I just praise the Lord that His people take delight in Jesus and His gospel
and His people, Amen.